Where There’s A Will There’s A Way

“Where there is a will, there is a way. If there is a chance in a million that you can do something, anything, to keep what you want from ending, do it. Pry the door open or, if need be, wedge your foot in that door and keep it open.” – Pauline Kael

History reveals numerous people who overcame insurmountable obstacles and setbacks to succeed.

You might be surprised to discover many successful entrepreneurs diagnosed with a developmental reading disorder dyslexia, including well-known Virgin founder, Richard Branson.

Daniel Pink author of A Whole New Mind cites Sally Shaywitz, a Yale neuroscientist and specialist in dyslexia who says, “Dyslexics think differently. They are intuitive and excel at problem-solving, seeing the big picture and simplifying… They are poor rote reciters, but inspired visionaries.”

Dyslexics have to overcome enormous odds to succeed which indicates a strong will to thrive. It is estimated that several leading international CEO’s past and present are dyslexic.

The human will is undeniably powerful. Once a stern commitment is made to carry through with a project or goal, there’s little to stop a person. You may have heard it said that the human will can move any mountain.

As long as one’s will is resolute and fuelled with the right intentions, a person can overcome most obstacles on their road to victory. Will power becomes man’s greatest ally for success.

In Malay the title of this article translates to, “when you want to do something, you will find a thousand ways possible to achieve it; but when you don’t want to do it, you will have a thousand excuses not to do it.”

Will and intent become powerful factors required to realise one’s goal.

The other essential attribute is purpose and passion. Purpose is defined as understanding one’s role within the cosmos. It is the ability to harness your skills, talents and genius with direct focussed attention to a pursuit. A purposeful vision is an extension of this faculty since it coincides with a common goal that benefits humanity.

One might conclude that merging a strong will with purpose creates a purposeful vision, clothed with honourable intentions. Many pioneers have achieved enormous success in spite of prevailing external circumstances. It was Albert Einstein who stated, “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.”

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Vision is the foresight to envisage an outcome without external proof. It is the ability to venture into the unknown – an inner knowing beyond the call of reason. Irving Stone’s classical biographical novel, The Agony and The Ecstasy depicts Michelangelo having an undeniable vision to paint and sculpt masterpieces.

He overcame many impediments to include the political agendas of the papacy intrusted into power. A strong vision, matched with a sense of purpose opens many roads to achieve one’s goal.

Those with vision stop at nothing to see their project come to life. In an earlier article, I referred to visionary Tony Hseih’s commitment to build the largest and successful online footwear retailer Zappos. The company sold to Amazon for over one billion dollars in recent years. Tony’s executive team faced numerous obstacles and setbacks along the way to build a global business. The quote, “The bigger the goal, the harder the climb” rings true in this case.

Having established that purpose and will are vital ingredients toward success, the other component common to connecting purpose and will is to recognise your why? Your WHY? is the motivating force behind why you pursue your goal.

When the road ahead is challenging as it no doubt will, your why? is an inner reassurance reminding you why you embarked upon your pursuit. Without a why? your project lacks passion and the stamina to sustain you in the long run.

The final component necessary for achieving success is determination. This faculty matched with will and purpose is strong enough to overcome any obstacle life presents you.

Your determination when associated with your why? becomes the ignition which flames the fire toward lasting success. Nothing can stop a person aligned with the blueprint below. They align with their purpose and through determination, connect to their why? to achieve unthinkable success.

Wilful Purpose + Determination (WHY?) = Inspired Success

Those with a strong will and insurmountable purpose rise to reframe failure. They see it as an opportunity to draw closer to their goal. It becomes a signpost rather than a dead-end. The cause and effect model many people subscribe to dictates that if a venture does not work, one should abandon it.

Yet there’s something powerful about the person who labours on despite the obstacles life throws at them. I draw your attention once more to Thomas Edison, having failed one thousand times before creating the electric light bulb. A strong will corresponding with a powerful vision means failure takes a backseat toward greatness.

I leave you with the following question to ponder: How can you reframe a current goal to infuse it with purpose, will and determination?